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SASKATOON, Saskatchewan & WINNIPEG, Manitoba--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As one of the major symptoms experienced by patients with Multiple
Sclerosis (MS), neuropathic pain can be extremely debilitating. A
leading neuro-immunology team lead by Dr. Michael Namaka at the
University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is looking to determine
the analgesic efficacy of two of CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CMED)
cannabinoid plant derived oil extracts using a rodent model of
MS-induced neuropathic pain.

The study entitled “Identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in
supressing multiple sclerosis induced neuropathic pain following
cannabinoid treatment in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS)” will
address the scientific merit of using medical cannabis in alleviating
neuropathic pain.

Study Specifics: Experimental Autoimmune
Encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-known animal model of MS. Dr. Namaka
has several recent publications that demonstrate that EAE animals
develop neuropathic pain following an immune system mediated insult such
as an MS attack. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 In his publications, Dr.
Namaka and others have shown that key biological targets such as TNFα
and CX3CL1 increase during EAE-induced neuropathic pain. As such, EAE
animals will receive analgesic treatment intervention with one of two
cannabinoid oil extract products at a comparable oral dose that is used
in humans to see if this medication can reduce the expression of these
pathological molecules that drive chronic pain.

“This research endeavour will be the first pre-clinical scientific
validation to identifying the direct molecular mechanisms of action of
herbal medical cannabis oils and their direct potential impact on
neuropathic pain for MS patients,” said Dr. Namaka, B.Sc. Pharm, M.Sc.
Pharm, PhD; EPP, Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty
of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. “With CanniMed’s
ability to supply consistent, quality controlled and
pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis oils for this trial, we are
confident that our outcomes will be standardized and provide us with
direction on how cannabis oil will also respond in the patient
population.”

This trial involves the investigation of two CanniMed® Oil products
(CanniMed® 10:10; CanniMed® 1:20) to identify whether THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) together, or CBD alone, has
an impact on MS-related neuropathic pain. The future goal of this
pre-clinical study is to use these validated scientific findings to
identify the lead cannabinoid oil extract that will move forward to a
clinical trial involving human subjects with chronic pain.

“CanniMed is committed to working with leading physicians and
researchers across Canada and around the world in the effort of
identifying the potential impact of medical cannabis in supporting
symptom management of a number of medical conditions,” said Brent Zettl,
President and CEO, CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. “Research endeavours like
this one will build upon the expanding library of pre-clinical and
clinical research in order to demonstrate to patients, physicians,
regulatory groups and governments that medical cannabis is an important
therapeutic option.”

This studyis currently underway and Dr. Namaka has indicated
that the early preliminary results provide compelling scientific
evidence to support the specific molecular mechanisms by which they
exert their beneficial effects to suppress pain. These exciting results
are expected to be submitted for publication within the next eight
months.

CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. has invested $80,000 CDN in pre-clinical
research funding to the University of Manitoba under the direction of
Dr. Namaka to explore the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for
the beneficial effects of cannabinoids in the treatment of multiple
sclerosis-induced neuropathic pain.

About CanniMed Therapeutics Inc.

The Company is a Canadian-based, international plant biopharmaceutical
company and a leader in the Canadian medical cannabis industry, with 15
years of pharmaceutical cannabis cultivation experience,
state-of-the-art, GMP-compliant plant production processes and world
class research and development platforms with a wide range of
pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products. In addition, the Company has an
active plant biotechnology research and product development program
focused on the production of plant-based materials for pharmaceutical,
agricultural and environmental applications.

CanniMed Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was the first
producer to be licensed under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes
Regulations, the predecessor to the current Access to Cannabis
for Medical Purposes Regulations.

Prairie Plant Systems Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
was the sole supplier to Health Canada under the former medical
marijuana system for 13 years, and has been producing safe and
consistent medical marijuana for thousands of Canadian patients, with no
incident of diversion.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical
facts, including without limitation, the pre-clinical scientific
validation of molecular mechanisms of action and statements regarding
future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives,
assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are
“forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not
expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does
not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases
or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”,
“would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of CanniMed Therapeutics
Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements,
including the risk that the results of the study will not be conclusive
and the risks described in CanniMed Therapeutics Inc.’s documents filed
with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities which may be
viewed at sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this
news release are made as of the date of this news release. CanniMed
Therapeutics Inc. does not undertake to publicly update such
forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events
or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities legislation.